Vamorolone (VBP15) – Clinical trial recruitment has begun

Our Partnership

In 2014 Duchenne UK, along with The Duchenne Research Fund, invested $1million on a novel steroid alternative VBP15. Muscular Dystrophy America also invested in this project.

The drug is being developed by ReveraGen Biopharma – a venture philanthropy drug development company.

The Phase I study was a success, and enabled ReveraGen Biopharma to raise a further $12million from US and European government agencies, for their Phase II clinical studies.

As of September 2016 ReveraGen Biopharma has begun recruiting patients for its Phase 2a open label study of Vamorolone. The trial will be recruiting patients who haven’t yet started steroids, between the ages of 4-7, and is recruiting in the UK, United States, Canada, Israel, Sweden and Australia.

What Is Vamorolone (VBP15)?

Vamorolone could offer a potential alternative to steroids, offering their benefits but reducing their side effects, which can be considerable.

Steroids remain the main long-term treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, as they effectively reduce inflammation.

Vamorolone – also known as VBP15 - is an anti-inflammatory drug.

It is expected that the new treatment will improve muscle strength in patients without the side-effects seen in steroid treatments, such as mood swings, stunted growth and weight gain.

Dr Michela Guglieri, who we have funded via our Clinical Trial Capacity programme, is the Principal Investigator of the trial at the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre in Newcastle.

What Is Happening About Clinical Trials?

Vamorolone has already been successfully tested on healthy volunteers in a Phase I Study.

As of September 2016 ReveraGen Biopharma has begun recruiting patients from UK, United States, Canada, Israel, Sweden and Australia for its Phase 2a open label study. Please see the information above and visit: http://vision-dmd.info/2a-trial-information/

Summit Therapeutics plc have announced positive 24-week interim data from PhaseOut DMD, their Phase 2 clinical trial of the utrophin modulator ezutromid. The data showed a significant reduction in muscle damage and an increase in utrophin in muscle biopsies.

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Our co-founders Alex Johnson and Emily Crossley met after their sons were diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. They both set up charities, Alex with Joining Jack, Emily with the Duchenne Children’s Trust.

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